Public Act 096-1304
 
HB5951 EnrolledLRB096 15489 AJO 35974 b

    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Procurement Code is amended by
changing Section 50-2 as follows:
 
    (30 ILCS 500/50-2)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a
delayed effective date)
    Sec. 50-2. Continuing disclosure; false certification.
Every person that has entered into a multi-year contract and
every subcontractor with a multi-year subcontract shall
certify, by July 1 of each fiscal year covered by the contract
after the initial fiscal year, to the responsible chief
procurement officer whether it continues to satisfy the
requirements of this Article pertaining to eligibility for a
contract award. If a contractor or subcontractor is not able to
truthfully certify that it continues to meet all requirements,
it shall provide with its certification a detailed explanation
of the circumstances leading to the change in certification
status. A contractor or subcontractor that makes a false
statement material to any given certification required under
this Article is, in addition to any other penalties or
consequences prescribed by law, subject to liability under the
Illinois False Claims Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act
for submission of a false claim.
(Source: P.A. 96-795, eff. 7-1-10 (see Section 5 of P.A. 96-793
for the effective date of P.A. 96-795).)
 
    Section 10. The Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act is
amended by changing Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 as
follows:
 
    (740 ILCS 175/1)  (from Ch. 127, par. 4101)
    Sec. 1. This Act may be cited as the Illinois False Claims
Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act.
(Source: P.A. 87-662.)
 
    (740 ILCS 175/2)  (from Ch. 127, par. 4102)
    Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act:
    (a) "State" means the State of Illinois; any agency of
State government; the system of State colleges and
universities, any school district, community college district,
county, municipality, municipal corporation, unit of local
government, and any combination of the above under an
intergovernmental agreement that includes provisions for a
governing body of the agency created by the agreement.
    (b) "Guard" means the Illinois National Guard.
    (c) "Investigation" means any inquiry conducted by any
investigator for the purpose of ascertaining whether any person
is or has been engaged in any violation of this Act.
    (d) "Investigator" means a person who is charged by the
Attorney General or the Department of State Police with the
duty of conducting any investigation under this Act, or any
officer or employee of the State acting under the direction and
supervision of the Attorney General or the Department of State
Police, through the Division of Operations or the Division of
Internal Investigation, in the course of an investigation.
    (e) "Documentary material" includes the original or any
copy of any book, record, report, memorandum, paper,
communication, tabulation, chart, or other document, or data
compilations stored in or accessible through computer or other
information retrieval systems, together with instructions and
all other materials necessary to use or interpret such data
compilations, and any product of discovery.
    (f) "Custodian" means the custodian, or any deputy
custodian, designated by the Attorney General under subsection
(i)(1) of Section 6.
    (g) "Product of discovery" includes:
        (1) the original or duplicate of any deposition,
    interrogatory, document, thing, result of the inspection
    of land or other property, examination, or admission, which
    is obtained by any method of discovery in any judicial or
    administrative proceeding of an adversarial nature;
        (2) any digest, analysis, selection, compilation, or
    derivation of any item listed in paragraph (1); and
        (3) any index or other manner of access to any item
    listed in paragraph (1).
(Source: P.A. 95-128, eff. 1-1-08.)
 
    (740 ILCS 175/3)  (from Ch. 127, par. 4103)
    Sec. 3. False claims.
    (a) Liability for certain acts.
        (1) In general, any Any person who:
            (A) (1) knowingly presents, or causes to be
        presented, to an officer or employee of the State or a
        member of the Guard a false or fraudulent claim for
        payment or approval;
            (B) (2) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made
        or used, a false record or statement material to get a
        false or fraudulent claim paid or approved by the
        State;
            (C) (3) conspires to commit a violation of
        subparagraph (A), (B), (D), (E), (F), or (G) defraud
        the State by getting a false or fraudulent claim
        allowed or paid;
            (D) (4) has possession, custody, or control of
        property or money used, or to be used, by the State and
        knowingly , intending to defraud the State or willfully
        to conceal the property, delivers, or causes to be
        delivered, less than all the money or property than the
        amount for which the person receives a certificate or
        receipt;
            (E) is (5) authorized to make or deliver a document
        certifying receipt of property used, or to be used, by
        the State and, intending to defraud the State, makes or
        delivers the receipt without completely knowing that
        the information on the receipt is true;
             (F) (6) knowingly buys, or receives as a pledge of
        an obligation or debt, public property from an officer
        or employee of the State, or a member of the Guard, who
        lawfully may not sell or pledge the property; or
            (G) (7) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made
        or used, a false record or statement material to
        conceal, avoid or decrease an obligation to pay or
        transmit money or property to the State, or knowingly
        conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or
        decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or
        property to the State, ;
        (8) knowingly takes adverse employment action against
    an employee for disclosing information to a government or
    law enforcement agency, if the employee has reasonable
    cause to believe that the information discloses a violation
    of State or federal law, rule, or regulation; or
        (9) knowingly retaliates against an employee who has
    disclosed information in a court, an administrative
    hearing, before a legislative commission or committee, or
    in another proceeding and discloses information, if the
    employee has reasonable cause to believe that the
    information discloses a violation of State or federal law,
    rule, or regulation,
    is liable to the State for a civil penalty of not less than
    $5,500 and not more than $11,000, plus 3 times the amount
    of damages which the State sustains because of the act of
    that person. The penalties in this Section are intended to
    be remedial rather than punitive, and shall not preclude,
    nor be precluded by, a criminal prosecution for the same
    conduct.
        (2) A person violating this subsection (a) shall also
    be liable to the State for the costs of a civil action
    brought to recover any such penalty or damages.
    (b) Definitions. For purposes of this Section:
        (1) The Knowing and knowingly defined. As used in this
    Section, the terms "knowing" and "knowingly":
            (A) mean that a person, with respect to
        information:
                (i) (1) has actual knowledge of the
            information;
                (ii) (2) acts in deliberate ignorance of the
            truth or falsity of the information; or
                (iii) (3) acts in reckless disregard of the
            truth or falsity of the information, and
            (B) require no proof of specific intent to defraud
        is required.
        (2) The term (c) Claim defined. As used in this
    Section, "claim": includes
            (A) means any request or demand, whether under a
        contract or otherwise, for money or property and
        whether or not the State has title to the money or
        property, that
                (i) is presented to an officer, employee, or
            agent of the State; or
                (ii) which is made to a contractor, grantee, or
            other recipient, if the money or property is to be
            spent or used on the State's behalf or to advance a
            State program or interest, and if the State:
                    (I) provides or has provided any portion
                of the money or property which is requested or
                demanded; , or
                    (II) if the State will reimburse such
                contractor, grantee, or other recipient for
                any portion of the money or property which is
                requested or demanded; and .
            (B) does not include requests or demands for money
        or property that the State has paid to an individual as
        compensation for State employment or as an income
        subsidy with no restrictions on that individual's use
        of the money or property. A claim also includes a
        request or demand for money damages or injunctive
        relief on behalf of an employee who has suffered an
        adverse employment action taken in violation of
        paragraphs (8) or (9) of subsection (a).
        (3) The term "obligation" means an established duty,
    whether or not fixed, arising from an express or implied
    contractual, grantor-grantee, or licensor-licensee
    relationship, from a fee-based or similar relationship,
    from statute or regulation, or from the retention of any
    overpayment.
        (4) The term "material" means having a natural tendency
    to influence, or be capable of influencing, the payment or
    receipt of money or property.
    (c) (d) Exclusion. This Section does not apply to claims,
records, or statements made under the Illinois Income Tax Act.
(Source: P.A. 94-1059, eff. 7-31-06; 95-128, eff. 1-1-08.)
 
    (740 ILCS 175/4)  (from Ch. 127, par. 4104)
    Sec. 4. Civil actions for false claims.
    (a) Responsibilities of the Attorney General and the
Department of State Police. The Attorney General or the
Department of State Police shall diligently investigate a civil
violation under Section 3, except for civil violations under
Section 3 that relate to and adversely affect primarily the
system of State colleges and universities, any school district,
any public community college district, any municipality,
municipal corporations, units of local government, or any
combination of the above under an intergovernmental agreement
that includes provisions for a governing board of the agency
created by the agreement. If the The Attorney General finds
that a person violated or is violating Section 3, the Attorney
General may bring a civil action under this Section against the
any person that has violated or is violating Section 3.
    The State shall receive an amount for reasonable expenses
that the court finds to have been necessarily incurred by the
Attorney General, including reasonable attorneys' fees and
costs. All such expenses, fees, and costs shall be awarded
against the defendant. The court may award amounts from the
proceeds of an action or settlement that it considers
appropriate to any governmental entity or program that has been
adversely affected by a defendant. The Attorney General, if
necessary, shall direct the State Treasurer to make a
disbursement of funds as provided in court orders or settlement
agreements.
    (b) Actions by private persons.
        (1) A person may bring a civil action for a violation
    of Section 3 for the person and for the State. The action
    shall be brought in the name of the State. The action may
    be dismissed only if the court and the Attorney General
    give written consent to the dismissal and their reasons for
    consenting.
        (2) A copy of the complaint and written disclosure of
    substantially all material evidence and information the
    person possesses shall be served on the State. The
    complaint shall be filed in camera, shall remain under seal
    for at least 60 days, and shall not be served on the
    defendant until the court so orders. The State may elect to
    intervene and proceed with the action within 60 days after
    it receives both the complaint and the material evidence
    and information.
        (3) The State may, for good cause shown, move the court
    for extensions of the time during which the complaint
    remains under seal under paragraph (2). Any such motions
    may be supported by affidavits or other submissions in
    camera. The defendant shall not be required to respond to
    any complaint filed under this Section until 20 days after
    the complaint is unsealed and served upon the defendant.
        (4) Before the expiration of the 60-day period or any
    extensions obtained under paragraph (3), the State shall:
            (A) proceed with the action, in which case the
        action shall be conducted by the State; or
            (B) notify the court that it declines to take over
        the action, in which case the person bringing the
        action shall have the right to conduct the action.
        (5) When a person brings an action under this
    subsection (b), no person other than the State may
    intervene or bring a related action based on the facts
    underlying the pending action.
    (c) Rights of the parties to Qui Tam actions.
        (1) If the State proceeds with the action, it shall
    have the primary responsibility for prosecuting the
    action, and shall not be bound by an act of the person
    bringing the action. Such person shall have the right to
    continue as a party to the action, subject to the
    limitations set forth in paragraph (2).
        (2) (A) The State may dismiss the action
        notwithstanding the objections of the person
        initiating the action if the person has been notified
        by the State of the filing of the motion and the court
        has provided the person with an opportunity for a
        hearing on the motion.
            (B) The State may settle the action with the
        defendant notwithstanding the objections of the person
        initiating the action if the court determines, after a
        hearing, that the proposed settlement is fair,
        adequate, and reasonable under all the circumstances.
        Upon a showing of good cause, such hearing may be held
        in camera.
            (C) Upon a showing by the State that unrestricted
        participation during the course of the litigation by
        the person initiating the action would interfere with
        or unduly delay the State's prosecution of the case, or
        would be repetitious, irrelevant, or for purposes of
        harassment, the court may, in its discretion, impose
        limitations on the person's participation, such as:
                (i) limiting the number of witnesses the
            person may call:
                (ii) limiting the length of the testimony of
            such witnesses;
                (iii) limiting the person's cross-examination
            of witnesses; or
                (iv) otherwise limiting the participation by
            the person in the litigation.
            (D) Upon a showing by the defendant that
        unrestricted participation during the course of the
        litigation by the person initiating the action would be
        for purposes of harassment or would cause the defendant
        undue burden or unnecessary expense, the court may
        limit the participation by the person in the
        litigation.
        (3) If the State elects not to proceed with the action,
    the person who initiated the action shall have the right to
    conduct the action. If the State so requests, it shall be
    served with copies of all pleadings filed in the action and
    shall be supplied with copies of all deposition transcripts
    (at the State's expense). When a person proceeds with the
    action, the court, without limiting the status and rights
    of the person initiating the action, may nevertheless
    permit the State to intervene at a later date upon a
    showing of good cause.
        (4) Whether or not the State proceeds with the action,
    upon a showing by the State that certain actions of
    discovery by the person initiating the action would
    interfere with the State's investigation or prosecution of
    a criminal or civil matter arising out of the same facts,
    the court may stay such discovery for a period of not more
    than 60 days. Such a showing shall be conducted in camera.
    The court may extend the 60-day period upon a further
    showing in camera that the State has pursued the criminal
    or civil investigation or proceedings with reasonable
    diligence and any proposed discovery in the civil action
    will interfere with the ongoing criminal or civil
    investigation or proceedings.
        (5) Notwithstanding subsection (b), the State may
    elect to pursue its claim through any alternate remedy
    available to the State, including any administrative
    proceeding to determine a civil money penalty. If any such
    alternate remedy is pursued in another proceeding, the
    person initiating the action shall have the same rights in
    such proceeding as such person would have had if the action
    had continued under this Section. Any finding of fact or
    conclusion of law made in such other proceeding that has
    become final shall be conclusive on all parties to an
    action under this Section. For purposes of the preceding
    sentence, a finding or conclusion is final if it has been
    finally determined on appeal to the appropriate court, if
    all time for filing such an appeal with respect to the
    finding or conclusion has expired, or if the finding or
    conclusion is not subject to judicial review.
    (d) Award to Qui Tam plaintiff.
        (1) If the State proceeds with an action brought by a
    person under subsection (b), such person shall, subject to
    the second sentence of this paragraph, receive at least 15%
    but not more than 25% of the proceeds of the action or
    settlement of the claim, depending upon the extent to which
    the person substantially contributed to the prosecution of
    the action. Where the action is one which the court finds
    to be based primarily on disclosures of specific
    information (other than information provided by the person
    bringing the action) relating to allegations or
    transactions in a criminal, civil, or administrative
    hearing, in a legislative, administrative, or Auditor
    General's report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or
    from the news media, the court may award such sums as it
    considers appropriate, but in no case more than 10% of the
    proceeds, taking into account the significance of the
    information and the role of the person bringing the action
    in advancing the case to litigation. Any payment to a
    person under the first or second sentence of this paragraph
    (1) shall be made from the proceeds. Any such person shall
    also receive an amount for reasonable expenses which the
    court finds to have been necessarily incurred, plus
    reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. The State shall also
    receive an amount for reasonable expenses which the court
    finds to have been necessarily incurred by the Attorney
    General, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs,
    and the amount received shall be deposited in the
    Whistleblower Reward and Protection Fund created under
    this Act. All such expenses, fees, and costs shall be
    awarded against the defendant. The court may award amounts
    from the proceeds of an action or settlement that it
    considers appropriate to any governmental entity or
    program that has been adversely affected by a defendant.
    The Attorney General, if necessary, shall direct the State
    Treasurer to make a disbursement of funds as provided in
    court orders or settlement agreements. When the system of
    State colleges and universities, any school district, any
    public community college district, any municipality, any
    municipal corporation, any unit of local government, or any
    combination of the above under an intergovernmental
    agreement has been adversely affected by a defendant, the
    court may award such sums as it considers appropriate to
    the affected entity, specifying in its order the amount to
    be awarded to the entity from the net proceeds that are
    deposited in the Whistleblower Reward and Protection Fund.
        (2) If the State does not proceed with an action under
    this Section, the person bringing the action or settling
    the claim shall receive an amount which the court decides
    is reasonable for collecting the civil penalty and damages.
    The amount shall be not less than 25% and not more than 30%
    of the proceeds of the action or settlement and shall be
    paid out of such proceeds. Such person shall also receive
    an amount for reasonable expenses which the court finds to
    have been necessarily incurred, plus reasonable attorneys'
    fees and costs. All such expenses, fees, and costs shall be
    awarded against the defendant. The court may award amounts
    from the proceeds of an action or settlement that it
    considers appropriate to any governmental entity or
    program that has been adversely affected by a defendant.
    The Attorney General, if necessary, shall direct the State
    Treasurer to make a disbursement of funds as provided in
    court orders or settlement agreements.
        (3) Whether or not the State proceeds with the action,
    if the court finds that the action was brought by a person
    who planned and initiated the violation of Section 3 upon
    which the action was brought, then the court may, to the
    extent the court considers appropriate, reduce the share of
    the proceeds of the action which the person would otherwise
    receive under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection (d),
    taking into account the role of that person in advancing
    the case to litigation and any relevant circumstances
    pertaining to the violation. If the person bringing the
    action is convicted of criminal conduct arising from his or
    her role in the violation of Section 3, that person shall
    be dismissed from the civil action and shall not receive
    any share of the proceeds of the action. Such dismissal
    shall not prejudice the right of the State to continue the
    action, represented by the Attorney General.
        (4) If the State does not proceed with the action and
    the person bringing the action conducts the action, the
    court may award to the defendant its reasonable attorneys'
    fees and expenses if the defendant prevails in the action
    and the court finds that the claim of the person bringing
    the action was clearly frivolous, clearly vexatious, or
    brought primarily for purposes of harassment.
    (e) Certain actions barred.
        (1) No court shall have jurisdiction over an action
    brought by a former or present member of the Guard under
    subsection (b) of this Section against a member of the
    Guard arising out of such person's service in the Guard.
        (2) (A) No court shall have jurisdiction over an action
        brought under subsection (b) against a member of the
        General Assembly, a member of the judiciary, or an
        exempt official if the action is based on evidence or
        information known to the State when the action was
        brought.
        (B) For purposes of this paragraph (2), "exempt
        official" means any of the following officials in State
        service: directors of departments established under
        the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the
        Adjutant General, the Assistant Adjutant General, the
        Director of the State Emergency Services and Disaster
        Agency, members of the boards and commissions, and all
        other positions appointed by the Governor by and with
        the consent of the Senate.
        (3) In no event may a person bring an action under
    subsection (b) which is based upon allegations or
    transactions which are the subject of a civil suit or an
    administrative civil money penalty proceeding in which the
    State is already a party.
        (4)  (A) No court shall have jurisdiction over an
        action under this Section based upon the public
        disclosure of allegations or transactions in a
        criminal, civil, or administrative hearing, in a
        legislative, administrative, or Auditor General's
        report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or from the
        news media, unless the action is brought by the
        Attorney General or the person bringing the action is
        an original source of the information.
            (B) For purposes of this paragraph (4), "original
        source" means an individual who has direct and
        independent knowledge of the information on which the
        allegations are based and has voluntarily provided the
        information to the State before filing an action under
        this Section which is based on the information.
    (f) State not liable for certain expenses. The State is not
liable for expenses which a person incurs in bringing an action
under this Section.
    (g) Relief from retaliatory actions.
        (1) In general, any Any employee, contractor, or agent
    is entitled to all relief necessary to make that employee,
    contractor, or agent whole, if that employee, contractor,
    or agent who is discharged, demoted, suspended,
    threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated
    against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or
    her employer because of lawful acts done by the employee,
    contractor, or agent on behalf of the employee, contractor,
    or agent or associated others in furtherance of other
    efforts to stop one or more violations of this Act an
    action under this Section, including investigation for,
    initiation of, testimony for, or assistance in an action
    filed or to be filed under this Section, shall be entitled
    to all relief necessary to make the employee whole. Such
    relief
        (2) Relief under paragraph (1) shall include
    reinstatement with the seniority status that the such
    employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the
    discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on
    the back pay, and compensation for any special damages
    sustained as a result of the discrimination, including
    litigation costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. An action
    under this subsection (g) may be brought employee may bring
    an action in the appropriate circuit court for the relief
    provided in this subsection (g).
(Source: P.A. 89-260, eff. 1-1-96.)
 
    (740 ILCS 175/5)  (from Ch. 127, par. 4105)
    Sec. 5. False claims procedure.
    (a) A subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness at a
trial or hearing conducted under Section 4 of this Act may be
served at any place in the State.
    (b) A civil action under Section 4 may not be brought:
        (1) more than 6 years after the date on which the
    violation of Section 3 is committed, or
        (2) more than 3 years after the date when facts
    material to the right of action are known or reasonably
    should have been known by the official of the State charged
    with responsibility to act in the circumstances, but in no
    event more than 10 years after the date on which the
    violation is committed,
whichever occurs last.
    (c) If the State elects to intervene and proceed with an
action brought under subsection (b) of Section 4, the State may
file its own complaint or amend the complaint of a person who
has brought an action under subsection (b) of Section 4 to
clarify or add detail to the claims in which the State is
intervening and to add any additional claims with respect to
which the State contends it is entitled to relief. For statute
of limitations purposes, any such State pleading shall relate
back to the filing date of the complaint of the person who
originally brought the action, to the extent that the claim of
the State arises out of the conduct, transactions, or
occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in the
prior complaint of that person.
    (d) (c) In any action brought under Section 4, the State
shall be required to prove all essential elements of the cause
of action, including damages, by a preponderance of the
evidence.
    (e) (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a final
judgement rendered in favor of the State in any criminal
proceeding charging fraud or false statements, whether upon a
verdict after trial or upon a plea of guilty, shall estop the
defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in
any action which involves the same transaction as in the
criminal proceeding and which is brought under subsection (a)
or (b) of Section 4.
(Source: P.A. 87-662.)
 
    (740 ILCS 175/6)  (from Ch. 127, par. 4106)
    Sec. 6. Subpoenas.
    (a) In general.
        (1) Issuance and service. Whenever the Attorney
    General, or a designee (for purposes of this Section), has
    reason to believe that any person may be in possession,
    custody, or control of any documentary material or
    information relevant to an investigation, the Attorney
    General, or a designee, may, before commencing a civil
    proceeding under this Act or making an election under
    paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Section 4, issue in
    writing and cause to be served upon such person, a subpoena
    requiring such person:
            (A) to produce such documentary material for
        inspection and copying,
            (B) to answer, in writing, written interrogatories
        with respect to such documentary material or
        information,
            (C) to give oral testimony concerning such
        documentary material or information, or
            (D) to furnish any combination of such material,
        answers, or testimony.
    The Attorney General may delegate the authority to issue
    subpoenas under this subsection (a) to the Department of
    State Police subject to conditions as the Attorney General
    deems appropriate. Whenever a subpoena is an express demand
    for any product of discovery, the Attorney General or his
    or her delegate shall cause to be served, in any manner
    authorized by this Section, a copy of such demand upon the
    person from whom the discovery was obtained and shall
    notify the person to whom such demand is issued of the date
    on which such copy was served. Any information obtained by
    the Attorney General or a designee under this Section may
    be shared with any qui tam relator if the Attorney General
    or designee determines it necessary as part of any False
    Claims Act investigation.
        (1.5) Where a subpoena requires the production of
    documentary material, the respondent shall produce the
    original of the documentary material, provided, however,
    that the Attorney General, or a designee, may agree that
    copies may be substituted for the originals. All
    documentary material kept or stored in electronic form,
    including electronic mail, shall be produced in native
    format, as kept in the normal course of business, or as
    otherwise directed by hard copy, unless the Attorney
    General or designee agrees that electronic versions may be
    substituted for the hard copy. The production of
    documentary material shall be made at the respondent's
    expense.
        (2) Contents and deadlines. Each subpoena issued under
    paragraph (1):
            (A) Shall state the nature of the conduct
        constituting an alleged violation that is under
        investigation and the applicable provision of law
        alleged to be violated.
            (B) Shall identify the individual causing the
        subpoena to be served and to whom communications
        regarding the subpoena should be directed.
            (C) Shall state the date, place, and time at which
        the person is required to appear, produce written
        answers to interrogatories, produce documentary
        material or give oral testimony. The date shall not be
        less than 10 days from the date of service of the
        subpoena. Compliance with the subpoena shall be at the
        Office of the Attorney General in either the
        Springfield or Chicago location or at other location by
        agreement.
            (D) If the subpoena is for documentary material or
        interrogatories, shall describe the documents or
        information requested with specificity.
            (E) Shall notify the person of the right to be
        assisted by counsel.
            (F) Shall advise that the person has 20 days from
        the date of service or up until the return date
        specified in the demand, whichever date is earlier, to
        move, modify, or set aside the subpoena pursuant to
        subparagraph (j)(2)(A) of this Section.
    (b) Protected material or information.
        (1) In general. A subpoena issued under subsection (a)
    may not require the production of any documentary material,
    the submission of any answers to written interrogatories,
    or the giving of any oral testimony if such material,
    answers, or testimony would be protected from disclosure
    under:
            (A) the standards applicable to subpoenas or
        subpoenas duces tecum issued by a court of this State
        to aid in a grand jury investigation; or
            (B) the standards applicable to discovery requests
        under the Code of Civil Procedure, to the extent that
        the application of such standards to any such subpoena
        is appropriate and consistent with the provisions and
        purposes of this Section.
        (2) Effect on other orders, rules, and laws. Any such
    subpoena which is an express demand for any product of
    discovery supersedes any inconsistent order, rule, or
    provision of law (other than this Section) preventing or
    restraining disclosure of such product of discovery to any
    person. Disclosure of any product of discovery pursuant to
    any such subpoena does not constitute a waiver of any right
    or privilege which the person making such disclosure may be
    entitled to invoke to resist discovery of trial preparation
    materials.
    (c) Service in general. Any subpoena issued under
subsection (a) may be served by any person so authorized by the
Attorney General or by any person authorized to serve process
on individuals within Illinois, through any method prescribed
in the Code of Civil Procedure or as otherwise set forth in
this Act.
    (d) Service upon legal entities and natural persons.
        (1) Legal entities. Service of any subpoena issued
    under subsection (a) or of any petition filed under
    subsection (j) may be made upon a partnership, corporation,
    association, or other legal entity by:
            (A) delivering an executed copy of such subpoena or
        petition to any partner, executive officer, managing
        agent, general agent, or registered agent of the
        partnership, corporation, association or entity;
            (B) delivering an executed copy of such subpoena or
        petition to the principal office or place of business
        of the partnership, corporation, association, or
        entity; or
            (C) depositing an executed copy of such subpoena or
        petition in the United States mails by registered or
        certified mail, with a return receipt requested,
        addressed to such partnership, corporation,
        association, or entity as its principal office or place
        of business.
        (2) Natural person. Service of any such subpoena or
    petition may be made upon any natural person by:
            (A) delivering an executed copy of such subpoena or
        petition to the person; or
            (B) depositing an executed copy of such subpoena or
        petition in the United States mails by registered or
        certified mail, with a return receipt requested,
        addressed to the person at the person's residence or
        principal office or place of business.
    (e) Proof of service. A verified return by the individual
serving any subpoena issued under subsection (a) or any
petition filed under subsection (j) setting forth the manner of
such service shall be proof of such service. In the case of
service by registered or certified mail, such return shall be
accompanied by the return post office receipt of delivery of
such subpoena.
    (f) Documentary material.
        (1) Sworn certificates. The production of documentary
    material in response to a subpoena served under this
    Section shall be made under a sworn certificate, in such
    form as the subpoena designates, by:
            (A) in the case of a natural person, the person to
        whom the subpoena is directed, or
            (B) in the case of a person other than a natural
        person, a person having knowledge of the facts and
        circumstances relating to such production and
        authorized to act on behalf of such person.
    The certificate shall state that all of the documentary
    material required by the demand and in the possession,
    custody, or control of the person to whom the subpoena is
    directed has been produced and made available to the
    Attorney General.
        (2) Production of materials. Any person upon whom any
    subpoena for the production of documentary material has
    been served under this Section shall make such material
    available for inspection and copying to the Attorney
    General at the place designated in the subpoena, or at such
    other place as the Attorney General and the person
    thereafter may agree and prescribe in writing, or as the
    court may direct under subsection (j)(1). Such material
    shall be made so available on the return date specified in
    such subpoena, or on such later date as the Attorney
    General may prescribe in writing. Such person may, upon
    written agreement between the person and the Attorney
    General, substitute copies for originals of all or any part
    of such material.
    (g) Interrogatories. Each interrogatory in a subpoena
served under this Section shall be answered separately and
fully in writing under oath and shall be submitted under a
sworn certificate, in such form as the subpoena designates by:
        (1) in the case of a natural person, the person to whom
    the subpoena is directed, or
        (2) in the case of a person other than a natural
    person, the person or persons responsible for answering
    each interrogatory.
If any interrogatory is objected to, the reasons for the
objection shall be stated in the certificate instead of an
answer. The certificate shall state that all information
required by the subpoena and in the possession, custody,
control, or knowledge of the person to whom the demand is
directed has been submitted. To the extent that any information
is not furnished, the information shall be identified and
reasons set forth with particularity regarding the reasons why
the information was not furnished.
    (h) Oral examinations.
        (1) Procedures. The examination of any person pursuant
    to a subpoena for oral testimony served under this Section
    shall be taken before an officer authorized to administer
    oaths and affirmations by the laws of this State or of the
    place where the examination is held. The officer before
    whom the testimony is to be taken shall put the witness on
    oath or affirmation and shall, personally or by someone
    acting under the direction of the officer and in the
    officer's presence, record the testimony of the witness.
    The testimony shall be taken stenographically and shall be
    transcribed. When the testimony is fully transcribed, the
    officer before whom the testimony is taken shall promptly
    transmit a certified copy of the transcript of the
    testimony in accordance with the instructions of the
    Attorney General. This subsection shall not preclude the
    taking of testimony by any means authorized by, and in a
    manner consistent with, the Code of Civil Procedure.
        (2) Persons present. The investigator conducting the
    examination shall exclude from the place where the
    examination is held all persons except the person giving
    the testimony, the attorney for and any other
    representative of the person giving the testimony, the
    attorney for the State, any person who may be agreed upon
    by the attorney for the State and the person giving the
    testimony, the officer before whom the testimony is to be
    taken, and any stenographer taking such testimony.
        (3) Where testimony taken. The oral testimony of any
    person taken pursuant to a subpoena served under this
    Section shall be taken in the county within which such
    person resides, is found, or transacts business, or in such
    other place as may be agreed upon by the Attorney General
    and such person.
        (4) Transcript of testimony. When the testimony is
    fully transcribed, the Attorney General or the officer
    before whom the testimony is taken shall afford the
    witness, who may be accompanied by counsel, a reasonable
    opportunity to review and correct the transcript, in
    accordance with the rules applicable to deposition
    witnesses in civil cases. Upon payment of reasonable
    charges, the Attorney General shall furnish a copy of the
    transcript to the witness, except that the Attorney General
    may, for good cause, limit the witness to inspection of the
    official transcript of the witness' testimony.
        (5) Conduct of oral testimony.
            (A) Any person compelled to appear for oral
        testimony under a subpoena issued under subsection (a)
        may be accompanied, represented, and advised by
        counsel, who may raise objections based on matters of
        privilege in accordance with the rules applicable to
        depositions in civil cases. If such person refuses to
        answer any question, a petition may be filed in circuit
        court under subsection (j)(1) for an order compelling
        such person to answer such question.
            (B) If such person refuses any question on the
        grounds of the privilege against self-incrimination,
        the testimony of such person may be compelled in
        accordance with Article 106 of the Code of Criminal
        Procedure of 1963.
        (6) Witness fees and allowances. Any person appearing
    for oral testimony under a subpoena issued under subsection
    (a) shall be entitled to the same fees and allowances which
    are paid to witnesses in the circuit court.
    (i) Custodians of documents, answers, and transcripts.
        (1) Designation. The Attorney General or his or her
    delegate shall serve as custodian of documentary material,
    answers to interrogatories, and transcripts of oral
    testimony received under this Section.
        (2) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, no
    documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or
    transcripts of oral testimony, or copies thereof, while in
    the possession of the custodian, shall be available for
    examination by any individual, except as determined
    necessary by the Attorney General and subject to the
    conditions imposed by him or her for effective enforcement
    of the laws of this State, or as otherwise provided by
    court order.
        (3) Conditions for return of material. If any
    documentary material has been produced by any person in the
    course of any investigation pursuant to a subpoena under
    this Section and:
            (A) any case or proceeding before the court or
        grand jury arising out of such investigation, or any
        proceeding before any State agency involving such
        material, has been completed, or
            (B) no case or proceeding in which such material
        may be used has been commenced within a reasonable time
        after completion of the examination and analysis of all
        documentary material and other information assembled
        in the course of such investigation,
    the custodian shall, upon written request of the person who
    produced such material, return to such person any such
    material which has not passed into the control of any
    court, grand jury, or agency through introduction into the
    record of such case or proceeding.
    (j) Judicial proceedings.
        (1) Petition for enforcement. Whenever any person
    fails to comply with any subpoena issued under subsection
    (a), or whenever satisfactory copying or reproduction of
    any material requested in such demand cannot be done and
    such person refuses to surrender such material, the
    Attorney General may file, in the circuit court of any
    county in which such person resides, is found, or transacts
    business, or the circuit court of the county in which an
    action filed pursuant to Section 4 of this Act is pending
    if the action relates to the subject matter of the subpoena
    and serve upon such person a petition for an order of such
    court for the enforcement of the subpoena.
        (2) Petition to modify or set aside subpoena.
            (A) Any person who has received a subpoena issued
        under subsection (a) may file, in the circuit court of
        any county within which such person resides, is found,
        or transacts business, and serve upon the Attorney
        General a petition for an order of the court to modify
        or set aside such subpoena. In the case of a petition
        addressed to an express demand for any product of
        discovery, a petition to modify or set aside such
        demand may be brought only in the circuit court of the
        county in which the proceeding in which such discovery
        was obtained is or was last pending. Any petition under
        this subparagraph (A) must be filed:
                (i) within 20 days after the date of service of
            the subpoena, or at any time before the return date
            specified in the subpoena, whichever date is
            earlier, or
                (ii) within such longer period as may be
            prescribed in writing by the Attorney General.
            (B) The petition shall specify each ground upon
        which the petitioner relies in seeking relief under
        subparagraph (A), and may be based upon any failure of
        the subpoena to comply with the provisions of this
        Section or upon any constitutional or other legal right
        or privilege of such person. During the pendency of the
        petition in the court, the court may stay, as it deems
        proper, the running of the time allowed for compliance
        with the subpoena, in whole or in part, except that the
        person filing the petition shall comply with any
        portion of the subpoena not sought to be modified or
        set aside.
        (3) Petition to modify or set aside demand for product
    of discovery. In the case of any subpoena issued under
    subsection (a) which is an express demand for any product
    of discovery, the person from whom such discovery was
    obtained may file, in the circuit court of the county in
    which the proceeding in which such discovery was obtained
    is or was last pending, a petition for an order of such
    court to modify or set aside those portions of the subpoena
    requiring production of any such product of discovery,
    subject to the same terms, conditions, and limitations set
    forth in subparagraph (j)(2) of this Section.
        (4) Jurisdiction. Whenever any petition is filed in any
    circuit court under this subsection (j), such court shall
    have jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter so
    presented, and to enter such orders as may be required to
    carry out the provisions of this Section. Any final order
    so entered shall be subject to appeal in the same manner as
    appeals of other final orders in civil matters. Any
    disobedience of any final order entered under this Section
    by any court shall be punished as a contempt of the court.
    (k) Disclosure exemption. Any documentary material,
answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony provided
under any subpoena issued under subsection (a) shall be exempt
from disclosure under the Illinois Administrative Procedure
Act.
(Source: P.A. 93-579, eff. 1-1-04; 94-940, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
    (740 ILCS 175/8)  (from Ch. 127, par. 4108)
    Sec. 8. Funds; Grants.
    (a) There is hereby created the Whistleblower Reward and
Protection Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. All
proceeds of an action or settlement of a claim brought under
this Act shall be deposited in the Fund. Any attorneys' fees,
expenses, and costs paid by or awarded against any defendant
pursuant to Section 4 of this Act shall not be considered part
of the proceeds to be deposited in the Fund.
    (b) Monies in the Fund shall be allocated, subject to
appropriation, as follows: One-sixth of the monies shall be
paid to the Attorney General and one-sixth of the monies shall
be paid to the Department of State Police for State law
enforcement purposes. The remaining two-thirds of the monies in
the Fund shall be used for payment of awards to Qui Tam
plaintiffs, for attorneys' fees and expenses, and as otherwise
specified in this Act, with any remainder to the General
Revenue Fund. The Attorney General shall direct the State
Treasurer to make disbursement of funds as provided in court
orders setting those awards, fees, and expenses. The State
Treasurer shall transfer any fund balances in excess of those
required for these purposes to the General Revenue Fund.
(Source: P.A. 87-662.)
 
    Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section
represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does
not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes
made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
Public Act.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.